KIRKUS REVIEW

In this child’s introduction to
Mexico, Juan prepares for the Cinco de Mayo festivities in his town.

A family of non–Spanish-speaking white
tourists arrives, saying, “Taco? Taco?” Juan correctly guesses that they
want—wait for it—tacos! As Juan shows the tourist family around, Yoon proceeds
to provide facts about the Mexican culture, people, and food. Unfortunately,
much of this information is either inaccurate or misleading. She claims that
salsa is ground chili pepper “mixed with bell peppers, vinegar, and sugar” and
asserts that Mexicans eat Tex-Mex food such as “chip-like nachos.” The simplistic
declaration that the Aztecs “are the ancestors of the Mexican people,” when
there were many different civilizations far older than the Aztecs such as the
Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Maya, is worthy of a grade school report. The text’s
awkward English phrasing also disrupts the narrative: “Juan, look at all those
valuable corn.” Corr’s bright, primitive illustrations are colorful and lively
but likewise misleading. Even taking into account artistic license, there is
nothing to account for the anomalous placement of the Yucatán Peninsula’s
Chichen Itzá and the central Mexican volcano Popocatepetl in the same landscape
as the maguey plants of Tequila, Jalisco. Spanish flamenco dancers
incongruously fill the Mexican plaza, and the male characters’ clothing and
facial features are from all over the Caribbean, Latin America, and beyond.

The disparate visual and textual
mélange of misinformation renders this well-intended but off-the-mark title
skippable. (further information) (Picture
book. 5-8)

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